Natural Sports Medicine Blog

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Dr
Narson's "Back Pain Survival Guide For Hurricane Prep & Cleanup"

In both preparing for and cleaning up after tropical storms and
hurricanes, many people injure themselves. I would like to offer you a few back
safety tips during your preparation/cleanup for hurricane Ike and any other
storms throughout the rest of the 2017 season.

Cleaning up around your house or condo requires a lot of
bending, lifting, twisting and reaching.

1) Bend & Lift
Properly

When bending, even for the smallest and lightest of objects, bend with your
knees. Do not bend from your waist as this is the easiest and most popular way
to herniated a disc in your back. It doesn’t matter how heavy the object is,
bend properly and you reduce the chance of injury. Remember, not all objects
are evenly balanced. That’s why your trainer has you do those unbalanced
squats!! Be careful.

2) Pack & Move
Smaller Objects

Don’t be tempted to lift larger objects, even if they are light in weight. In
order to move a larger awkward object yourself, you have to compromise proper
lifting technique and make your back vulnerable to injury. Pack small boxes
that are easy to lift. When packing a box, keep in mind the weight of it as you
add items. If you have a heavy or large object, put it on a dolly, hand-truck
or get another person to help.

3) Twisting &
Reaching

In order to store your stuff, you may have to lift it above your head, twist
and reach as you put it away. Use a step stool and put objects away that are
above the level of your shoulders. Try to keep the object at the level of your
shoulder when you are on the stool or ladder and hold objects close to your
torso. The further you hold an object away from you, the more pressure you
place on your back. When twisting to the left, be sure that your left foot,
left hip and left shoulder is pointing in the same direction as you turn.
Obviously the same goes for turning to the right. This method keeps your spine
in line when turning. Turning this way is okay, twisting your spine is not.

4) Apply Ice, Ask
Questions Later

If you do feel that you have hurt yourself and are not sure what
to do, I always tell people to apply ice compresses 1st and ask questions
later. Obviously, you must stop any lifting and take care of yourself. When
applying ice, never put it directly on your skin; always lay a handkerchief or
other cloth on the skin and then apply the ice pack on top of that. 15-20 on,
the rest of the hour off, repeat as needed. (and yes, I know of some of those
new ice recommendations, but after 27 years of practice, I've seen the results
and I'm sticking with ice per the original recommendations) for acute injuries.
Not everyone has full time professional trainers to help them with joint and
soft tissue mobilization, eccentric lengthening, manual lymphatic drainage or
other active techniques and until you get to a competent, physician with knowledge of muculoskeletal medicine (DO, DC or MD) , certified athletic trainer or
PT, Ice First-Ask Questions Later.

5) Moist Heat To Relax

There is no question you will be somewhat sore after preparing
for the hurricane. If you feel a little stiff, sore or achy, apply a moist hot
compress for 15-20 minutes to the affected areas to help relive soreness.
Repeat as needed 15-20 minutes per hour. Do not apply heat for longer than 20
minutes per application. And DO NOT Sleep on a heating pad! Unless you want to slow cook your muscles!!! A hot bath is a nice way to sooth sore, stiff achy muscles- just as long as you don’t need your bathtub to store extra water.

6) Don't Sit Too Long!

Please remember that sitting in one place while you are evacuated for a
prolonged period of time can flair up back pain just like an acute injury (even
if you have no back problems at all). So make sure you get up and move around
every 25 minutes throughout the day & stretch too!

7) We Are Here For You

Remember, when the hurricane is over, these tips apply for the clean-up as
well. If you do hurt yourself or you feel sore, stiff, achy and are not sure
what to do, remember, we are always here to help. If you have questions or have
an issue while prepping or cleaning up, text or call me personally 305.984.6336

If you do suffer some sort of back or neck pain or other strain of your body and it doesn't do away by itself in 48-72 hours, come see us for help.

Good luck weathering the storm should it hit. I hope these tips
are helpful for you and your family

Sunday, February 12, 2017

I first encountered Shephard's pie during lunch at Coral Springs Middle School. Surprisingly, I loved it. That was probably a first for a school lunch anywhere. Since being an adult and a doctor, eating healthy is a part of my life and based on much research, paleo is how I eat.I've seen and tried several recipes for paleo Shephard's pie and have tweaked them to the point I call this one my own. I make it with either grass-fed ground beef or free range ground turkey (not ground turkey breast because it comes out too dry). Shephard's pie has two layers, the "meat mixture" and the topping. Instead of mashed potatoes, this recipe uses a cauliflower mash. The recipe uses carrots, onions, celery and cauliflower, so there is quite a bit of 'veg' in there.Also, you can use the cauliflower mash as a side dish for steak, chicken, fish or use it by itself as a snack. try it as you make it, you'll see. If you like a hearty, savory meal, this is it. I make a tray of it and use it for lunch and dinner for about 3-4 days. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Dr. Narson's Paleo Shephard's Pie:

For the top layer

2 large heads
cauliflower, cut into florets

2 tbsp ghee,
melted

Salt and
freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Fresh
parsley, to garnish

Paprika to
garnish

4 heaping
Tbsp of nutritional yeast

1 tsp garlic
powder

1 tbsp onion
powder

For the bottom layer

2 lb. grass-fed
ground beef (or free range turkey)

1 Tbsp
coconut oil & 1 Tbsp of Ghee

1 large
onion, diced

3 carrots,
diced

2 celery
stalks, diced

1 can of
tomato paste

1 cup
chicken broth

1 tsp dry mustard

1/4 tsp
cinnamon

1/8 tsp
ground clove

1 tsp of
smoked paprika

Salt and
freshly ground black pepper, to taste

2 heaping
Tbsp of the ‘cauliflower mash’

1 Tbsp of
coconut flour (optional)

Instructions

Place a
couple inches of water in a large pot. Once the water is boiling, place
steamer insert and then cauliflower florets into the pot and cover. Steam
for 15-20 minutes, until fork tender. Drain and place in large mixing bowl.

Add the
ghee, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to
the cauliflower. Using an immersion blender (aka: stick blender) to combine the ingredients until
smooth. Taste test for flavor, make any adjustments then set aside.

Meanwhile,
heat the coconut oil & ghee in a large skillet over medium heat. Add
the onion, celery, and carrots and sauté for 5 minutes until carrots and
celery get soft and onions become clear and just start to brown.

Add the
salt, pepper, ground clove, cinnamon and smoked paprika to the ground
beef, combine well until the spices are well incorporated into the ground
beef. Flatten into a large patty and place on top of the
carrot/onion/celery mixture and press the ground beef into the pan. Cook
until it browns (once one side is brown, cut it into 4 piece, flip each
piece so the other side can brown. Once the second side browns, chop into
small pieces with a chopper. Cook for another 3-4 minutes and mix as you
go.

Stir the
tomato paste and chicken broth into the meat mixture. Season to taste with
salt and pepper. Simmer for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add 2 tbsp
of cauliflower mash to the meat mixture and mix it in

Sprinkle
coconut flour on top of meat mixture, then, mix it into the meat mixture
to thicken the sauce. Let simmer another 2-3 minutes.

Distribute
the meat mixture evenly in a rectangular glass pan to about ½ the height
of the pan wall. Distribute cauliflower mash evenly over the meat mixture
until the meat mixture is completely covered. Sprinkle (non-smoked)
paprika lightly over the top.

Place in
oven on 325 for 15 minutes. Then broil until top later starts to brown.

Enjoy!

Let me just say.... Wow, this was good!Enjoy!Dr. T_____________________________________________________________Dr. Narson is a 2-term past president of the Florida Chiropractic Association’s Council on Sports Injuries, Physical Fitness & Rehabilitation and was honored as the recipient of the coveted Chiropractic Sports Physician of the Year Award in 1999-2000. He practices in Miami Beach, Florida at the Miami Beach Family & Sports Chiropractic Center; A Facility for Natural Sports Medicine.

Friday, August 19, 2016

In June 2014 I had the privilege of doing a 2 week medical
rotation at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Being a chiropractic physician specializing
in sports medicine, this was a big deal for me. It’s something I set goals for, worked hard to develop my skill-set, thought about
and dreamed about for a very long time.
While I was there treating America’s current and future Olympians and treating
athletes alongside the Olympic training center’s staff trainers, therapists and
physicians, I kept one thing in mind…Whatever I do could affect my profession.
I knew it was about

more than just myself.

I knew that if If I screwed up or goofed off or played a prank, it could
have a negative impact on other sports chiropractors everywhere. If I wasn’t
thorough in my consults and exam, if I wasn’t effective in my treatment, if I
was disrespectful in any manor it could have a negative impact on my
profession. While at the Olympic
Training Center I considered myself an ambassador for my profession. What I did
there could reflect positively or negatively on my profession.

As such I have to say to swimmers
Ryan Lochte, Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen of Team USA (and to all
athletes everywhere representing your family, town, county, school, state or
country) - you are all ambassadors. We watch you with high hopes and hold you
in high regard. We cheer for you when you compete, we ache with you when you
lose or get hurt and we feel such pride when you win. You are an extension of
us. You carry the spirit of our country
with you wherever you go and what you do on the world stage reflects on the USA
and each and everyone one of us here at home.

Monday, June 6, 2016

Recently I was asked to be part of a panel discussion on the topic of concussion in sports and of course I did it. It was Co-Hosted by exercise physiologist and health coach Lisa Dwoskin & New York Giants Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor. I was happy to share the spotlight with my esteemed colleague Dr. Steve Perman of West Boca Raton, FL.
Concussion in sports is a deep topic. Think of the mad hatter going down the rabbit hole. You don't know how deep it will go or where it will lead you. Just expect the unexpected. Enjoy the video and post your thoughts and comments below.

The take home message from all this is (1) treat all concussion, even mild ones-seriously. (2) parents with children on a sports team where concussions and other sports injuries are probable, pool some money together and hire an athletic trainer or a certified sports chiropractor to evaluate and manage any injuries. (3) When it comes to concussion, all those bumps on the head add up. Addressing them early by a competent functional neurologist can make all the difference.

Friday, June 3, 2016

It’s not that Schmorl’s nodes are mythical, they actually do
occur. The problem is doctors and scientists like to give conditions they
discover cute (and sometimes not so cute) names that are really not very descriptive
of the physiology of the actual condition. Such is the case with Schmorl’s
nodes.

First described by Schmorl in 1927, a Schmorl’s node has
classically been known to be due to any process which weakens the cartilaginous
endplate or the subchondral cancellous bone. Schmorl’s nodes have been most
commonly associated with Scheurman’s disease, Paget’s disease, degenerative
joint disease, sickle cell anemia and malignant tumors. Essentially they occur
because some physicologic process has gone awry, weakened the bony end-plate of
the vertebral body and as the bone weakens, the pressure from the disc pushes
and deforms upward into the vertebral body.

When physicians see Schmorl’s nodes on
x-ray, CT-scan or MRI it is typically brushed off as an incidental finding-regardless
if the area is symptomatic or not. Although radiology text books always mention
trauma is a possible cause, it’s always at the very bottom of the list potential
diagnosis and usually never given a second thought. I think this needs to change.

Multi-level Schmorl's Nodes (fracture-herniation)

2 studies published in Spine V. Fahey
et. al.) 1998 and the American Journal of Neuroradiology (Wagner, et. al. 2000)
seem to bring the Schmorl’s node phenomenon to the top of the list when there
is spinal pain caused by a trauma in an area where a Schmorl’s node is present.
These papers show that not only can trauma cause a Schmorl’s node but most (57%) of
the Schmorl’s nodes in 2000 AJNR study were traced to episodes of “significant,
sudden-onset, localized, non-radiating back pain and tenderness for which the MRI
images showed Schmorl’s nodes surrounded by vertebral body marrow edema”.

Now that we know Schmorl’s nodes
are occurring from trauma more often than originally thought, what exactly is a
traumatically caused Schmorl’s node?
That’s a very simple answer. With a strong annulus and enough pressure
placed on the intervertebral disc seen in car accidents, falls and other
trauma; the force takes the path of
least resistance fracturing and herniating
up through the interior and/or superior end plate of the vertebra - fracturing
its way into the spongy bone.

Bottom line, if you find yourself having pain after a trauma and your x-rays, CT scan or MRI shows a Schmorl's node(s) in the area of your injury, then you can bet that the Schmorl's node was caused by the trauma. Now you just have to find a physician open minded enough to read the research and work with you to resolve your symptoms.

Friday, May 20, 2016

For one reason or another you can't or won't tolerate flour or other grains in your diet but miss some of those fun foods of your past. There are many good reasons to give up grains all of which seem to be forgotten when some of your favorite foods are offered up by friends and family.

If you're on a Paleo Diet or other grain restricted diet and miss your Sunday morning pancakes? Well here's your perfect Paleo replacement.

Dr. Narson's No Grain-No Pain Paleo Pancakes

What you'll need:

1 Large very ripe banana

2 cups of almond flour

1 Tablespoon of baking powder

3 large eggs (I use free range)

1 pinch of sea salt (I actually use Base Salt, the salt I used to prevent cramps during Ironman Miami 70.3 because it has a better mineral balance, not just NaCl)

KerryGold butter to coat the pan

OPTIONAL: You can add some vanilla extract and a pinch of stevia for additional flavor.

About Me

Dr. Todd
M. Narson graduated from Logan College of Chiropractic in 1990 and is a Diplomate
of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (DACBSP). One
of only 240 DACBSPs in the country; 1 of 10 in Florida and the only one
practicing in Miami-Dade County, FL. . In 2011 Dr Narson was granted
anInternational Chiropractic Sports
Science Diploma (ICSSD)by
the International Federation of Sports Chiropractic (F.I.C.S.) and is the only
chiropractor in South Florida with such international credential.Dr.
Narson was a member of the COPAG international sports medicine team at the XVI
Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, October 2011.During his tenure at the Pan
American Games, he worked with teams from all over the Western hemisphere
including Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Peru
& Mexico.

Dr.
Narson has lived in South Florida for over 30 years. He is a 2-term
past president of the Florida Chiropractic Association’s Council on Sports
Injuries, Physical Fitness & Rehabilitation and has been on their governing
board for 8+ years. He was honored as the recipient of the coveted Chiropractic
Sports Physician of the Year award in 1999-2000.

Dr.
Narson was also a credentialed treating physician in the Poly-Clinics at the20th
Central American & All Caribbean Sport Games (XX Juegos Deportivos
CentroAmricanos Y Del Caribe), Cartegena, Colombia.

Dr.
Narson in inventor and developer of the Narson Body Mechanic N6, a soft tissue
"multi-tool" used for Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilizations
techniques such as FAKTR and others. He has been an M1 & M2 certified
Graston Technique(r) provider for the past 10 years and is trained in FAKTR
advanced soft tissue mobilization & rehabilitation techniques.

Along with Allen Miller, Dr. Narson has co-authored the paper: Protocols
For Proprioceptive Active Re-Training Boards (balance boards).
Published in Chiropractic Sports Medicine Magazine; the Journal of the American
Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, Vol 9, No. 2, May 1995 pp 52-55.

Having
chiropractors associated with hospitals was unheard of here in Florida until
1994 when a small group of chiropractors were credentialed here in South
Florida. As some of the first chiropractors in the country to have such
privileges, Dr. Narson was part of the original group accepted into the
Chiropractic Division at Golden Glades Regional Medical Center.

Coining
the term: “Natural Sports Medicine” Dr. Narson has been
educating personal trainers at local gyms and health clubs for several years in
including well known clubs such as Club Body Tech, Crunch & David
Barton’s (Original) Gym in South Beach.

He was medical director
for the 1998 Pan American Race Walk Cup held in Downtown Miami
&

He also served as Medical
team member and treating physician for the 1999 Pan American Tae Kwon Do
Regional qualification Tournament for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games

Meet Director/treating
physician for the Sydney 2000 Para-Olympic Qualifier/USA Open-Power
lifting held in North Miami.

In
1994 Dr. Narson was asked to join the professional boxing team of Don
King’s light weight contender: Lamar “COSHISE” Murphy and was named
“Team Physician”. Providing the fighter with performance enhancement training
techniques, nutrition and chiropractic care, Dr. Narson worked with the boxing
trainers and traveled with team COCHISE Murphy around the country during his
1995 quest for the WBC lightweight title.

Coors
Lite, Gatorade, Jose’ Cuervo and Jiffy Lube were a few
of the sponsors of large sporting events such as beach volleyball, triathlons
and professional NASCAR racing that have credentialed Dr.
Narson as an on-site treating physician. Dr. Narson has also been
included on the sports medicine teams at the Miami Grand Prix, the Florida
Sunshine State Games as well as other national and international
sports competitions.

Dr.
Narson has had the privilege of being invited to treat the cast and crews of
the Broadway Shows: Les Miserables, The Rockettes, & Damn Yankees. To
date, Dr. Narson has spent over 1000 hours working “on field” with athletes at
various sporting events from local regional athletes, to world class Olympians
& professionals.

Sports
medicine is on the cutting edge of healthcare, Dr. Narson uses his experience
and education with athletes and sports injuries to treat all patients, not just
athletes. Dr. Narson feels everyone deserves the knowledge of a
sports medicine physician, because everyone, in their own way is an athlete as
some level.

Dr.
Narson practices in Miami Beach with his partner and wife, Dr. Corey
Narson. Drs. Narson has lived in Miami Beach since 1993 where they
also raise their children.

Dr. Narson is an active triathlete and member of the South Florida Triathletes Hammerheads triathlon club. He is holds a 1st dan blackbelt in shotokan karate.